Corbeil Buses
Encyclopedia
Corbeil Bus Corporation is a school and commercial bus manufacturer, based in Hutchinson, Kansas
. It was created from the acquisition of predecessor Les Enterprises Michel Corbeil by Collins Industries in 2007. Collins markets the Corbeil brand name throughout Canada, and as special order buses in the United States.
Les Enterprises Michel Corbeil is a former school and commercial bus manufacturer, based out of St-Lin-Laurentides
, Canada
.
Founded in 1985, the first Corbeil buses were produced in a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) factory; 77 buses (all Type A school buses) were manufactured the first year. The factory was later moved to a 130000 square feet (12,077.4 m²) facility to increase production. In 1990, Corbeil added full-size buses along with dual-rear wheel Type A school buses.
Corbeil buses were known for utilizing lightweight components, allowing for many flexible floorplans. Being built in Canada, Corbeil made a bus that was resistant to winter conditions, which made it a popular bus not only in Canada, but in the Northeast United States, particularly New York.
Outside of Canada, Corbeil's largest dealers, were Don Brown Bus Sales of Johnstown, NY and Gorman Enterprises of Elma, NY. New York State made up the majority of Corbeil's overall sales in the United States.
In addition to Type A buses, Corbeil built Type C (conventional) and Type D (transit-style) buses. These were only sold in Canada, as Corbeil did not want to enter the highly competitive US market. Most conventionals were built on International
chassis, but some Ford
B-700 and Freightliner
FS-65 chassis were supplied as well. Additionally, International supplied Type D chassis, but Corbeil was not allowed to sell their Type D buses in the United States because they would compete against similar products built by International's subsidiary, AmTran
.
In September 2007, after a few years of declining business, Corbeil shut down operations, and Collins Bus Corporation purchased assets, including designs, naming rights, and warranty.
production in Ohio was closed at the same time). Today, the three Collins school bus brands sell a common product line differentiated largely by brand engineering. In addition, sales of each brand are concentrated in different regions of North America so as not to directly compete with one another but as a whole against competitors like Blue Bird/Girardin, Starcraft, Thomas, and Trans Tech.
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
. It was created from the acquisition of predecessor Les Enterprises Michel Corbeil by Collins Industries in 2007. Collins markets the Corbeil brand name throughout Canada, and as special order buses in the United States.
Les Enterprises Michel Corbeil
.Les Enterprises Michel Corbeil is a former school and commercial bus manufacturer, based out of St-Lin-Laurentides
Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Quebec
Saint-Lin-Laurentides is a small town in Quebec, Canada, in the Regional County Municipality of Montcalm. In the 2001 Canadian census, the town had a population of 12,384....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Founded in 1985, the first Corbeil buses were produced in a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) factory; 77 buses (all Type A school buses) were manufactured the first year. The factory was later moved to a 130000 square feet (12,077.4 m²) facility to increase production. In 1990, Corbeil added full-size buses along with dual-rear wheel Type A school buses.
Corbeil buses were known for utilizing lightweight components, allowing for many flexible floorplans. Being built in Canada, Corbeil made a bus that was resistant to winter conditions, which made it a popular bus not only in Canada, but in the Northeast United States, particularly New York.
Outside of Canada, Corbeil's largest dealers, were Don Brown Bus Sales of Johnstown, NY and Gorman Enterprises of Elma, NY. New York State made up the majority of Corbeil's overall sales in the United States.
In addition to Type A buses, Corbeil built Type C (conventional) and Type D (transit-style) buses. These were only sold in Canada, as Corbeil did not want to enter the highly competitive US market. Most conventionals were built on International
Navistar International
Navistar International Corporation is a United States-based holding company that owns the manufacturer of International brand commercial trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus school and commercial buses, Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans, and is a private label...
chassis, but some Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
B-700 and Freightliner
Freightliner Trucks
Freightliner Trucks is an American manufacturer of heavy duty trucks, chassis and semi-trailer trucks in the United States. The company was founded as Freightliner Inc in 1942 and is now a division of Daimler Trucks North America, a subsidiary of the German Daimler AG...
FS-65 chassis were supplied as well. Additionally, International supplied Type D chassis, but Corbeil was not allowed to sell their Type D buses in the United States because they would compete against similar products built by International's subsidiary, AmTran
AmTran
American Transportation Corporation was a builder of school buses in the United States. Founded in 1980, the company traces its roots back to Ward Body Works, which was established in 1933. AmTran was acquired by Navistar International in 1994-1995, a move that would begin a series of alignment...
.
In September 2007, after a few years of declining business, Corbeil shut down operations, and Collins Bus Corporation purchased assets, including designs, naming rights, and warranty.
Corbeil Bus Corporation
After the acquisition in late 2007, Collins moved all Corbeil production from Quebec to their headquarters in Hutchinson, Kansas; this brought all Collins school bus production into one facility (Mid BusMid Bus
Mid Bus was a corporation which specialized in manufacturing customized school buses. Formed in 1981 by former employees of Superior Coach Company in Lima, Ohio, it grew from a dozen employees working in a small facility in Lima to become one of the country's largest manufacturers of smaller school...
production in Ohio was closed at the same time). Today, the three Collins school bus brands sell a common product line differentiated largely by brand engineering. In addition, sales of each brand are concentrated in different regions of North America so as not to directly compete with one another but as a whole against competitors like Blue Bird/Girardin, Starcraft, Thomas, and Trans Tech.
Products
- Type A Buses on Ford, ChevroletChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
, and GMC chassis (single and dual rear wheels) - Type C Buses on International 3800International 3800The International 3800 is a Type C bus chassis that was manufactured by Navistar International for school bus and commercial bus applications. It was produced from 1989 until 2004. The replacement for the S-Series "Schoolmaster", the 3800 used powertrains and components from the 4700 and 4900...
, Ford B-700Ford B-SeriesThe Ford B-Series was a Type C bus chassis manufactured by Ford Motor Company from 1948 to 1998 and was used primarily for school bus applications...
and Freightliner FS-65Freightliner FS-65The Freightliner FS-65 is a Type C conventional bus chassis manufactured by Freightliner, used for school bus and commercial bus applications. It was introduced for the 1997 model year for Thomas Built Buses...
chassis (1990–2003) - Type D Buses on International 3900 FEInternational 3900The International 3900 was a front-engine Type D bus chassis manufactured by Navistar International, used for school bus applications. It was the replacement for the 1853-FC chassis, based on the S-Series "Schoolmaster" introduced in the late 1970s...
and 3000 REInternational 3000The International 3000 is a rear-engine Type D bus chassis manufactured by Navistar International, used for school bus and commercial bus applications. It was introduced in 1996 as the chassis for the then-new AmTran RE. The 3000 is used primarily for school buses and only by IC Bus...
chassis (before 2000)